The Limit of Illness That Exempts One from Fasting

“Once in al-Madinah, during the month of Ramadan, I had fever, and abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), sent a bowl with olive oil and vinegar in it and said, ’Eat and perform Salat (prayer) in a sitting position.”’

“I once wrote to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asking about the limit of illness because of which one has permission to stop fasting and not to perform Salat (prayer) in a standing position. He (the Imam) said, ‘In fact, man is well aware of his soul,’ it is up to him to decide; he knows about his soul.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the limits of illness because of which it is obligatory on the patient not to fast as is the case on a journey, ‘. . . one who is on a journey or suffers from an illness. . . .’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is up to him to decide. If he finds weakness, he eats and if he finds strength he fasts, regardless of the degree of illness.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a fasting person is afraid about the illness of his eyes, he is allowed to eat.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a fasting man who feels a severe headache if he can eat. He (the Imam) said, ‘If one feels severe headache, a severe fever and a severe eye illness, then it is lawful for him to discontinue his fasting.’”

“Once my father asked him (abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) ) and I was listening, ‘What is the limit of an illness because of which it is permissible to stop fasting?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is when one is not able to take Suhur (breakfast in the morning before dawn).”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Once in the month of Ramadan ‘Umm Salamah complained of illness of her eyes. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, commanded her to eat, saying, ‘Not to eat until supper can cause the demise of your eyes.’”

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the limit of the illness that weakens one when fasting. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is up to him to decide; he knows better about his soul and when he is strong he can then fast.’”